Receive the latest national-international updates in your inbox

Fire investigators in Northeast Baltimore are searching for clues after an early morning fire left five people dead -- including four children under the age of seven. (Published Thursday, Oct 11, 2012)

Updated at 12:11 PM CST on Thursday, Oct 11, 2012

Fire investigators in Northeast Baltimore are searching for clues after an early morning fire left five people dead -- including four children under the age of seven.

The Baltimore City Fire Department responded to the call shortly after two this morning. On the scene they found one man, 52, who jumped from a second story window. He sustained injuries to his neck and back after jumping head-first.

Firefighters said they heard screams coming from the home, but by the time they got inside they were unable to rescue any of the remaining occupants.

Four children perished in the fire, and they are believed to be one, three, five and seven years old. A fifth person -- who family members say was a grandmother -- was 55.

WBAL talked to relatives earlier this morning and reported that a total of 10 people were inside the home when the fire started.

There is no word on their condition, but relative Barbara Hopkins says her granddaughter also escaped through a window.

"One of my granddaughters over there, but she don't want to talk to anybody, she threw her baby out the window, and she jumped out," Hopkins said. "She said she threw her baby out the window and she jumped out there."

Two firefighters were also injured, including one who fell through a second-story floor to the basement.

In a statement, Rick Hoffman, president of the local firefighter's union said that his "heartfelt condolences" go to the family.

Hoffman also referenced closed fire houses and said he believed it is a "non-arguable point is that the Baltimore City Fire Department is doing a lot more with fewer resources and is spread too thin."